This dream has been years in the making and I am grateful to anyone allowing my lens to catch an inward glimpse of who you are. If you have a moment, I’d like to tell you my story… * * * I was gifted my first camera for my thirteenth birthday; a matte-black Polaroid with film. I took it everywhere with me and snapped numerous photos of my friends as we explored life around us. That passion continued throughout high school, to a point where I was playfully teased about always having my digital camera dangling from my wrist; it was practically an extended limb. Most of my captures were candid; never posed, never prompted, always genuine. These were my favorite moments to photograph: laughter, sorrow, tenderness, vulnerability… Over time, I tried my hand at landscape photography, weddings, graduations, family portraits… but while I enjoyed seeing the satisfaction of my clientele, these photographs didn’t grasp my heart the way candid ones did. There is something about capturing tender moments as they are lived that transform them into a sacred still. I continued to take numerous photos of friends and family at gatherings, out by the pool, during surprises, just simply living. In a time when our every step is documented, filtered, scripted for social media, the candid aspect while in front of a lens is seemingly melting into a foreign language. There was also a price to pay for such captures as well: many of my photos were used for funeral slideshows. Even still, I am honored to have photographed so many vulnerable moments, sides of the loved one not many people got to see or been around for. I was happy to share these photos with the world. Back in April of this year, I’d finally completed my collection of gear to start individual portraits. I’d contacted my family to set sessions up for a new project I was working on: simply you; no props, no instruction (unless desired), no posing, just capturing moments on a continuous shutter speed while stories are told with nothing but a black backdrop and a comfortable stool. Needless to say, the family was curious, though I’d seemed to bring this all out of left field. My family and friends knew I’d enjoyed photography, but I’d always been hesitant to move forward with a project. I never had proper education on basic fundamentals, and largely learned how to edit by trial and error and using online tutorials. When I couldn’t get schedules to work, I’d lost some steam. I reached out to my grandpa and he was willing to be a participant. I was so excited, as I’d planned to ask him interview-style questions about his life during the shoot so I could know more about him while capturing his toothless smile that I loved so much. April sixth was the date we’d set. I was going to pack up all my gear and stay the weekend at my mom’s. But that day never came. My grandpa passed that very weekend. I will go my whole life regretting not building the confidence to start this project sooner. The potential images of my grandpa, up close and personal, in simple lighting, black and white, gentle hues, laughing and sitting in silence while he pondered his past run through my mind like clockwork… I decided I didn’t want to go another moment without using my lens for this exact purpose. I don’t want to wait for another funeral to showcase my captures; I want to freeze time the way I see it, the way I see you. I just want to capture you as you are: elegant, quirky, unique, beautifully flawed, gentle, human. I am grateful to you for trusting me with your Self, Let’s dive into the story of You, together. KF.